A carte-de-visite photograph showing Fort Snelling and the Minnesota River valley in 1865.

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Bud vase made from hammered sheet copper. The vase has a triangular base and three arms shaped and angled to hold a glass vial. Made as an occupational therapy project by Joseph Kontek of Saint Paul, Minnesota, while at the U.S. 29th General Hospital at Fort Snelling during World War I.

Folding brisé fan made of ivory (brisé fans have individual blade or stick elements instead of a fan leaf). Its blades are attached at the head with a metal rivet. A white ribbon runs throughout and attaches the blades to each other. The accompanying ivory case has a purple lining and brass hinges. The fan belonged to Harriet Haynes, a St. Paul school teacher who may have carried it at a Fort Snelling ball given for General George Custer in the 1870s.

Official seal used by Lawrence Taliaferro in his capacity as Indian Agent of St. Peters near Fort Snelling–a position he held from 1820 to 1839. The seal has a turned wooden handle and its metal stamp reads “ST. PETERS INDIAN AGENCY” with a crossed peace pipe and hatchet at center.

Folding reed organ made by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, Vermont, circa 1935. The organ was used as part of a military chaplain’s field equipment during World War II. After the war, it was used in programs at the Fort Snelling post hospital.

Hand-sewn silk suit worn by Josiah Snelling as a young boy, circa 1787. Snelling played a major role in the construction of Fort St. Anthony (later renamed Fort Snelling in his honor) and was its commanding officer from 1820-1827.

A plaster cast of a bear painted a copper color, made as an occupational therapy project by Erminio Belletinio of Saint Louis, Missouri, while at the U.S. 29th General Hospital, Fort Snelling, Minneapolis, Minnesota, circa World War I. Belletinio was a member of the U.S. Army 30th Division, 115th Field Artillery, Battery B.

Toy dog made of painted wood with movable limbs, tail, ears, and head. Made as part of an occupational therapy project by a wounded soldier at U.S. General Hospital #29, Fort Snelling, Minnesota, circa 1918-1919.

Curator Matt Anderson shares the story behind a World War II-era folding reed organ used at the Fort Snelling post hospital. Organist Sally Reynolds performs the hymn “Rock of Ages” on the recently-conserved instrument.